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(Nq Model.) 3 Sheets'Sheet 1.

Afo'. HUMPH'RBYS APPARATUS FOR THE MANUPAGTURE 0F GASA .No. 378,095. Patented Feb. 21,1888;

WITNESSES:

INVENTOB.

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER O. HUMPHREYS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNO TO THE UNITED GAS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 37 8,095, dated February 21, 1888. Application filed January 25, 1886. Serial No. 189,615. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER O. HUM- PHREYS, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have the coal-gas being mixed with the water-gas and the cokefinally used in the generator.

In apparatus of this kind heretofore used the retortchambcr is arranged so that the gases from the generator and from the retorts pass into and through it on their way to the fixingchamber, and therefore no combustion is permissible in the retort-chamber when gas is being stored, and the retorts therefore begin to lose heat as soon as the manufacture of gas is begun and give off less coal-gas than when the apparatus is being heated up. An undue proportion of this valuable coal-gas is therefore burned up in preparing the apparatus for the manufacture of gas. In blowing up such apparatus the gases are burned in the retortchamber and in the fixing-chamber, air, being introduced at various points to meet the gases, and as the completeness of the combustion depends on the volume of air thrown into the.

gases, it requires a very nice adjustment of the air-controlling valves to insure a proper proportionate combustion in the different chambers. V

The object of my invention is to overcome these difficulties and to provide a method of making gas which will, I believe, give better and more economical results than any heretofore designed.

My invention consists in combining, with a generator and fixing-chamber, a retort-chamber and a system of passages for the gas, one or more leading into the retort-chamber and one or more directly intothe fixing-chamber,

,whereby the supply'of gas for each chamber burned therewhile the remaining gases are being-stored; in arranging the stack or gas-escape of the retort-chamber so that it will cause a positive suction through the retort-chamber and,

so prevent, first, any tendency of the gases from the retort-chamber to How backward and mingle with the gases passing to the fixingchamber; and, second, this positive suction tends to draw the gases from the retorts and generator andprevent the tendency, which they would otherwise have, to flow out of the retort or generator doors when opened; in providing the gas-passage leading into the retortchamber with a valve by which theproportionate quantity of gas admitted into the chamber may be regulated at will; in arranging the openings of the gas-passages leading to the fixing chamber above the opening leading to the retort-chamber, whereby the rich coal-gases pass'directly into the fixing-chamber and the generatorgas supplies the retort-chamber;

and, finally, in the details of construction and arrangement hereinafter more fully described.

Reference being now had to the drawings, which illustrate my'invention, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved apparatus on line 2 c, Fig. 6. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the'gas-passages and valve on the line m m, Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a'like view showing the valve open. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the retort-chamber, partially cut away,'so as to show the passage leading into the chamber and its controlling-valve. Fig. 5 is a similar retorts and the other, J, into which the endsd of the retorts open.

too

F and G are bafiler-walls, which cause the gases in the retort to pass up, down, and again up around the retorts on their way to the stack H.

H is a device by which a jet of steam may be thrown up the stack to increase the draft.

K, K, K", and K are air pipes through which a blast is forced when desired.

L is the entrance of an air-passage leading from the generator and chamber J to the retort-chamber. As shown, it enters horizontally, passes downward at L, and then upward into the retort-chamber at L M is a valve through which the flow of gas into the retort-chamber is regulated.

M is the handle of the valve.

N N N are gas-passages leading from the generator and chamber J to the passage 0, leading to the fixing-chamber. These flues N are situated above the passage L.

P is the inlet for the hydrocarbon oil, and R is the opening through which the gas leaves the fixing-chamber.

In using my invention a fire is made in th generator of hard coal or coke, and the retorts D are charged with bituminous coal. An airblast is turned into the generator through the pipe K, and the valve M is so placed that the rising gases shall pass in proper proportion through the passage L and the passages N into the retort-chamber and fixer. The gases in the retort-chamber are ignited by air-blasts coming through pipes K and K arranged in any convenient positions, and the products of combustion finally pass out of the stack H.

The gases going to the fixer are also ignited by a blast through the pipe K As soon as the retorts become heated, they give off coalgas at their open ends, d, and these gases mingle with the gases from the generator and pass also through the flues L and N. When all parts of the apparatus have become sulficiently heated, the air-pipes K and K are closed, steam is turned into the generator at a, and oil is introduced at P in the head of the fixer. As the water-gas is richer than the gas produced in blowing up, the valve M is pushed in to contract the opening of the flue L, and the air-blasts K K are continued in the retort chamber, the burned gases escaping through the stack H. The heat of the retortchamber may thus be maintained at the point of greatest efficiency, and, as the gas-fines N are above the flue L, the rich coal-gases pass directly into the fixer and are saved.

WVhen it is desired to open the generator or the retort doors (1, the valve M should be opened to its fullest extent, so that the draft of the stack H, aided, if necessary, by the steam-jet H, shall tend to create a vacuum in the generator and chamber J. The doors may then be opened without danger of the gases blowing outward.

I believe the construction of the apparatus which is illustrated in the drawings to be that which embodies my inventions to the greatest advantage; but it may be modified in many ways, and of course some of my improvements may be used without the others.

I am aware that in the patent granted to J. L. Stewart, June 10, 1884, and numbered 300,330, an apparatus is described in which a fixingchamberis provided having retorts placed within it, through which the gases from the generator and the coaldistilling retorts are pressed together with hydrocarbon vapors, a separate passage from the generator to this .fixingchamber being provided, through which gas may be constantly and in any desired quantity admitted and burned in said fixing-chamber to maintain the heat of the said fixing-retorts; but in the apparatus invented by me the chamber spoken of as the retort-chamber is of a totally difi'erent character .from this fixingchamber, being used in connection with the open-ended retorts for distilling the bituminous coal and serving to keep up auniform temperture in these retorts; and I desire it to be clearly understood that my invention relates solely to apparatus in which provision is made to keep up combustion around these coal-dis tilling retorts.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In combination with a generator and fixing-chamber, a retort-chamber containing retorts for the distillation of bituminous coal, and a system of gas-passages, one or more leading into the retort-chamber and one or more direct to the fixing-chamber, whereby the supply of gases for each chamber is independent of the other.

2. In combination with a generator and fixing-chamber, a retort-chamber containing retorts for the distillation of bituminous coal, and having an independent stack or gas-escape and a system of gas-passages, one or more leading into the retort-chamber and one or more direct to the fixing-chamber, whereby the supply of gases for each chamber is independent of the Oth8l3l1d combustion may be continued in the retort-chamber while gas is being stored.

3. In combination with a generator and a fixing-chamber, a retort-chamber containing retorts for the distillation of bituminous coal, and provided with gas-supply passages independent of the passages leading to the fixing chamber, and having an independent gas-escape provided with means for creating a strong draft through the chamber.

4. In combination with a generator and a fixing-chamber, a retort-chamber containing IIO chamber or passage, .T, a gas-passage leading generator and divided from the combustionto'the com'bustion-chamber'of the retort-chamchamber by a wall, E, through which the openber, and gaspa'ssages leading to the fixingended retorts D project, the passage L L L, chambers'ituated between the open ends of the leading into the retort-chamber andhaving I 5 5 vretorts, and the gas-passage leading to said valve M, the independent stack H, and aircombustion-chamber, whereby the coal-gases pipes K K and the gas-passages N, leading are substantially all conveyed to said fixing to the fixing-chamber.

. chamber. ALEX. o. HUMPHREYS.

6. In combination with a generator, A, and Witnesses: IO fixing-chamber O, the retort-chamber B, hav- JOS. H. COLLINS, Jr.,

ing a passage or chamber, J, situated over the WM. J. SERRILL. 

